Apparatus for treating sheet material



July 14, 1942.

WARP ETAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 1942. H. WARP ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1939 'o---"- nvnllrlilrrrlp/ INVENTOR. ro't ZZ/ [1/0, a277, BY J0 13.773. 1 5M4 W Z WATTORNEY.

July 14, 1942. H. WARP ETAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan 3% INVENTOR.

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July 14, 1942. H. WARP ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IQSH Harold au;0, 7 3. [M WATTORNEY.

m $3 aw in" Jo/M llllllllllllllllllllllllll l Filed Jan. 13, 1939 Patented July 14, 1942 UNIT E D STATES: PATENT ()FFHCE APPARATUSFOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Harold Warp and John R..Warp, Chicago, 111.; said John R. Warp assignor. to said Harold Warp 1d Claims.

The" invention relates generally to apparatus for the treatment of sheetmaterial-such as fabric, paper or the like, and relates more particularly to the treatment of fabric to make the same waterproof, translucent and at" least partially transparent.

One object of the invention'isto provide anew and improved'means' of treating sheet material whichshortens the production timeand yet imparts to the treated material an unusuallyhigh degree of transparency, uniformity and durability.

Stillancther object is to provide apparatus for treating" sheet material having new and improvedmeans for accelerating theimpregnation and coating process and for increasing the-quantity of impregnating compound taken on by the material treated.

A moreparticular object is to-provide' a bath of the compound with which-the material is to be treated andrepeatedly subjecting thematerial to-pr-essure whilesubmerged'in thebath to-drive air and moisture from the-material and to drive compound into it.

Yet another object is-to provide, in apparatus for treating sheet material, a plurality of cooperating pressure rollers between which the'sheet material is passedto subject the same to pressure, certain ofrsaid' rollers being so positioned as to assure the escape of air pressed from the material.

Yet a further object is to provide, in a-material treating. apparatus having a bath with means for supporting rotatably. therein a roll of material, a setting chamber through which the treated material passes, and a driven roller upon which the material is wound and which drawsthe material from the bath and through the setting chamber, means located above the bath through which the material passes and whichhas a first adjustment fordetermining the tension on the material as a whole, as well as for determining the grade of the finished, product, and a second adjustment to determine the tension of the. edges of the stripof material.

Other objects'and advantages-will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in. which:

Fig; 1 is a side'vi'ew, partiallyin elevation and partially in. section, of approximate one-half of an apparatus embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 1a is aside view partiallyin elevation and partially in section of the remaining half of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken approximately along the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the forward and of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is a transverse-sectional view taken ap-. proximately along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a broken and partial transverse sectional view taken approximately along the line 55 of- Fig. 2.

Fig; 6' is a-fragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately alongthe line 6-6of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 isa fragmentary and enlargedsectional view illustrating the mounting of the guide rollers in the pressure applying means.

Fig. 8 is 'a topplanview of the right end of that par-tion of the apparatus shownin Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 isa fragmentary and enlarged top plan view of the winding means.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications-and alternative constructions, it is shown in. the drawings and 'willhereinaft'er be described in a. preferred embodiment, but it is not: intended that the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific disclosure made, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scopeofthe invention as'defined by the appended claims;

Though the apparatus about to be described may be employed to treat a variety of materials withiaxvariety of compounds, it will, for purposes of disclosure, herein be described as employed in the treatment of cloth with a p'arafiin compound. to form a substitute for glass. Generally the manufacture of material of this character comprises the steps of preparing the cloth for treatment, submerging the .same in a bath of paraffin compound, and'then removing and cooling the cloth so asto leave a uniform. coating of the parafiin compound thereon. The preparationof the cloth for treatment formslno part of 3 this invention. Sufiice it to say, therefore, that and coating means II, a cooling and setting chamber l2, and winding means 13. As suggested by the above, the cloth passes from the supporting and drying means H1 through the impregnating and coating means i I and thence through the setting chamber I 2, from which it issues as a finished product. Accordingly, the various means are, as best seen in Fig. 1, arranged in a row so that the cloth to be treated may readily pass from one means to the next for each successive step in the manufacture.

The cloth supporting and drying means IE! will now be described in greater detail. This means comprises simply a frame composed of four upright frame members l4 secured together by a transverse frame member l5, substantially at the midpoint of the frame, and transverse members I6 at the top of the upright members. This frame may or may not be enclosed, as desired, and provides at each side below the transverse member l a bearing [1 in which is rotatably journaled a roll [3 of cloth C previously prepared by bleaching and the application of a filler, as above mentioned. Supported on the transverse members is a tank l9 having a pipe connected thereto through which steam or some other suitable heating medium is supplied. Also forming a part of the means II! are a plurality of cylindrical bars 2!, 22 and 23 extending parallel with the axis of the roll of material l8, which serve as guides for the cloth as it is unwound from the roll and delivered to the impregnating and coating means H. The bar 2| is mounted on the same pair of upright members H! on which the bearings H are mounted, while the bars 22 and 23 are located one at each end of the transverse members 16. As clearly shown by the arrows, the cloth travels around the tank l9 in direct contact therewith, thence over the rod 2| upwardly to the rod 22 and then horizontally to the rod 23 and downwardly to the means II. In this way, the cloth is twice subjected to the heat in the tank H] in order that as much moisture as possible may be removed from the cloth.

Located opposite one end of the means [0 is a printing device generally designated 25, which is employed to print certain matter along one longitudinal edge of the material of the roll l8. This device, save for the matter printed, is of conventional construction and it is believed does not require detailed description. The particular matter which in this instance is printed on the cloth consists of indicia indicating units of length of the cloth, which indicia is utilized as an aid in dispensing the finished product by the retailers in conjunction with the combined shipping, dispensing and display device disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Harold Warp, Serial No. 241,531, filed November 21, 1938.

Considering now the impregnating and coating means H, this means comprises a tank 28, generally rectangular in horizontal section. providing a container for a bath of paraffin compound with which the cloth is to be impregnated and coated. To maintain the paraffin compound in the tank in a molten state, the tank is lined (Figs. 2 and 4) over its entire bottom and over the rearward half of each of the side walls with heating coils 29 through which a suitable heating medium, such as steam, may be passed. The heating medium is supplied through a pipe 30 leading to a suitable source (not shown) and is discharged through a pipe 3|. Parafiln is supplied to the tank 28 in a molten state through a pipe 32 opening to the tank near the bottom of one end and leading to a source of supply (not shown). The tank is normally filled to Within a few inches of the top.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to feed the cloth into the bath in layers or folds and then permit the same to remain in the bath for a substantial period of time, usually upwards of six hours, to provide ample time in which the cloth could become thoroughly impregnated with the parafiin. This manner of treating the cloth necessarily greatly limited the production of the finished product. It is a feature of this invention that a new apparatus for treating the cloth has been devised whereby not only the period of time required for a thorough impregnation of the cloth is reduced, but by means of which a product of improved quality is obtained. This improved apparatus also simplifies the handling of the cloth in that the cloth may be wound into a roll, submerged in the bath, immediately upon entry into the bath.

Accordingly, extending longitudinally of the tank 28 approximately midway between the bottom and the top thereof is a guide frame 35 composed of two laterally spaced channel members 36 (see Figs. 2 and 5). One end of the guide frame 35 is supported upon an angle iron 37 secured to the rear or right end wall of the tank 28, as viewed in Fig. 2. The other end of the guide frame 35 terminates short of the forward end wall of the tank and is supported by irons 38 depending from angle irons 39 resting on the upper edges of the tank 28. Each of the channel members 36 provides a first bearing 40 and a second bearing fill, located approximately at third points of the frame 35, in which a winding core d2 may be rotatably journaled. Each bearing 48 is formed by a pair of spaced rollers 40', while each bearing 42 is formed by three spaced rollers M, two of which have their axes in a common horizontal plane and the third of which is located above the forwardmost one of the other rollers to retain the winding core 42 in the bearing against the tendency of the cloth to pull the same out of the bearing while the cloth is being Wound on the core 32.

The core 42 is adapted to be driven when journaled in the bearings ll and to that end one end of the core (see Fig. 5) is provided with a notch 43 forming one-half of a one-way clutch, the other half of which is formed by a pin id extending diametrically through a stub shaft 45. The stub shaft 45 in turn extends through a sprocket 46 (Fig. 2) and is splined therein for rotation therewith while having axial movement relative thereto. The shaft is, in well known manner, urged toward engagement of the pin 44 with the core 42 and may be disengaged therefrom by means of a lever 21. The shaft 45 and sprocket 45 are rotatably supported in a bracket 48 secured to the rear side wall of the tank 28. A chain 49 drives the sprocket 46 from a sprocket 53 located above the tank 28 and in turn driven from an electric motor 51 through suitable reduction gearing 52. The motor 5i and the gearing 52 are suitably supported from the top edge of the tank 28.

In treating the cloth, the free end thereof is secured to the core 42 in the bearing 4!, which is then rotated at a desired speed causing the cloth to be unwound from the roll [8 supported in the means Ill, and to be wound in a new roll upon the core :2. In order to enable the cloth thus to be immediately wound into a roll and at the same time assure thorough impregnation of the cloth, the improved apparatus repeatedly subjects the cloth to pressure while submerged in the bath of paraffin in order that all air may be driven from the cloth and that the parafiin compound may be driven into the cloth so as to penetrate to the very core of each fibre, as well as filling the interstices between the fibres making up the cloth. This improved operation assures that there will be no air pockets or spaces which have not been filled with the compound and which, if present, might provide space for the absorption of moisture which would tend to destroy the finished product.

While a variety of means might be employed to apply this pressure to the cloth, herein the pressure applying means utilizes cooperating rollers. Accordingly, there is provided a frame 55 which is removably positioned in the forward end of the tank 28 intermediate the forward end wall of the tank and the end of the guide frame 35. Secured to the frame 55 are end plates (see Figs. 3 and i) which are drilled to provide a support for a plurality of transversely extending guide rollers 51, 58, 59, 65, 5H, 62, 55, 54 and 65, and a pair of rubber coated rollers 5-5 and 61. Of these guide rollers 51, 59, 5| and 53 are located near the bottom of the frame 55, while rollers 58, 65, 52 and 55 are located near the top of the frame 55 and while the roller 55 is located substantially on a level with the guide frame 55. The rollers 55 and 6], and also the guide rollers 51 to B5 are rotatably journaled, and preferably on ball bearings, in order that they may rotate freely so as not to place a large drag upon the cloth running thereover. As best seen in Fig. 7, each guide roller has extending therethrough a rod 53 secured at each end in one of the plates 55 of the frame 55 by a pair of nuts 55'. Interposed at each end between the roller and its rod is a ball bearing 54.

The rubber coated rollers 55 and 51 are located, respectively, in the upper left hand corner and the lower right hand corner of the frame 55, as viewed in Fig. 2, or cooperative engagement with the guide rollers 55 and 55, and El and 63, respectively. The rollers 55 and 5? have a ball bearing mounting similar to the rollers 51 and 65, but instead of having their rods fixed in the plates 55 they are mounted in slots 58 and '69, respectively, to permit of limited movement bodily relative to the guide rollers, particularly 58 and 55, and 5! and 53. Connecting each end of the rollers 55 and 6'! is a toggle linkage if! having a lever H extending outwardly of the tank 28. This linkage is of such construction that upon the application of a downward and leftward force to the lever ii, as viewed in Fig. 2, the rollers 55 and 5'! will be forced toward the remote ends of the slots 58 and 69 against the weight of the roller 55 and the action of a tension spring 12 normally tending to hold the rollers in the inner ends of the slots, as shown in Fig. 2. One end of spring 12 is attached to a rod 12 which is adjustable vertically to vary the tension of the spring while the other end is adapted to be clamped at various points along the linkage H! to vary the effect of the spring on the roller 55 or roller 51. It is believed readily apparent from Fig. 2 that when the lever H is released the rollers '55 and 51 will, due to the weight of the roller 55 and the action of the tension spring 12, be urged toward yieldable but firm contact with the respective cooperating rollers 58, 55, 5! and 53. The linkage I5 is provided in'order that the rollers I55 and 51 may be spaced from their cooperating rollers in order to permit the cloth to be threaded therebetween and also to remove the pressure from the rollers when the apparatus is not in operation. To retain the linkage Til in its actuated position, disengaging the rollers 65 and 61 from their cooperating guide rollers, a latch 13 is provided on the frame 55 for holding the lever H in actuated position.

The cloth to be treated, before being attached to the core 52, is passed over the various guide rollers in the frame 55 in order that it may be acted upon by the pressure rollers 66 and 61. Accordingly, the cloth, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, first passes downwardly to the bottom of the tank 28, thence around the roller 51, thence up wardly and around the roller 55, giving the roller 55 its first opportunity to apply pressure to the cloth. It is to be noted in this connection that the roller 58 is not located vertically below the axis of the roller '55, but is located forwardly in terms of the direction of rotation of roller 66, that is, to the left thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2. Such location of the roller 53 assures that the air bubbles formed as a result of this pressure on the cloth will not be trapped at the point of engagement of the roller 58 and the roller 65, but on the contrary will be permitted to travel upwardly along the surface of the roller 55 and then outwardly through the surface of the bath. From the roller 55 the cloth again travels downwardly, thence around the roller 59 and upwardly and around the roller 55, where it is again acted upon by the roller 65 to apply pressure a second time, further forcing any trapped air out of the cloth and forcing the compound into the interstices of the cloth and into the very fibres making up the cloth.

From the roller 65 the cloth passes downwardly around the roller 5!, then upwardly around the roller 52 and again downwardly and around the roller 65, upwardly around the roller 64 and downwardly around the roller 55, and from there to the core 42. With its passage around the rollers 5i and 53, the cloth again has pressure applied to it, this time by theroller 51, thus making a total of four times. This construction, in addition to applying pressure to the cloth at repeated intervals, also provides for the exposure of both sides of the cloth to the paraffin compound for a considerable length. of time and while moving. It has been found that by such repeated application of pressure to the cloth under the circumstances described, the cloth, particularly the fibres thereof, becomes more thoroughly impregnated with the compound, thereby not only making the finished product more waterproof and, therefore, more durable, but it also makes the finished product substantially more transparent. It also reduces to approximately one-sixth the time required for the cloth to remain submerged in the bath.

When a sufiicient quantity of the cloth has been wound upon the core 52, the motor 5| is stopped, the cloth is severed, and the clutch forming the driving connection between the core and the motor 5! is disengaged by manipulation of the lever ii. The roll is then rolled along the guide frame 35 until the core 52 drops onto the rollers ill providing a journal for the core. Preferably, the roll of cloth is permitted to remain submerged for a short period of time or until the operator of the apparatus is ready to remove the cloth from the tank and pass the same through the cooling and setting chamber l2 to complete the coating and impregnating process.

When the cloth, now thoroughly impregnated with the paraffin compound, is to be unwound from the roll and passed through the cooling and setting chamber l2, it is first passed through a tensioning means 14, described in detail hereinafter, and thence through a gage 15 which determines the thickness of the coating of paraffin which is to be applied'to the cloth. Herein this gage comprises an upstanding scraper blade 16 extending transversely of the tank 28 and a doctor plate H, also extending transversely of the tank 28, secured at one edge to a supporting bracket TI and having its free edge overlying the upper edge of the scraper blade 16. As best seen in Fig. 8, the bracket 11' carries a plurality of screws 18 at equally spaced intervals which bear against the doctor plate for adjustment thereof. Preferably the bracket H, or the plate itself, carries numbers identifying each screw. The cloth is passed between the blade and the plate with the plate 71 adjusted by means of the screws 18 so as to pass the desired quantity of parafiin.

From the gage 75 the cloth passes around a plurality of hollow rollers. In the present instance three such rollers 19, 80 and 8| are employed. These rollers are provided for the purpose of smoothing out the coating of parafiin on the cloth as well as for further determining the quality of the coating, and it is for those reasons that the number of rollers employed may be varied and that at least certain of the rollers are changeable. Herein, at least the roller 19 is cloth covered and, depending upon the character of the coating desired, a roller 19 covered with a cloth of fine mesh, or covered with a cloth of coarser mesh, is employed. After leaving the gage 15, the cloth runs underneath the roller 18, then upwardly around and over the roller 80, and thence over the roller 8|. Because of the extreme fluidity of the parafiin on the cloth at the time it passes over the rollers 19 to 8|, contact of the cloth with the roller has a tendency to force the paraffin from the side of the cloth in contact with the roller to the other or outer side, and thus the particular manner in which the cloth is passed over the rollers is important. As here shown, the cloth is last in contact with the roller 8| and passes over the top edge thereof, thereby assuring that the maximum quantity of parafiin will be on the upper side of the cloth at the commencement of its passage to the cooling and setting chamber. The rollers 19 to 8| are made hollow in order that they may be supplied with a heating medium. As best seen in Fig. 8, the rollers are connected by a pipe 82 to the pipe 38 supplying heating medium to the coils in the tank 28, and the heating medium is discharged from the rollers through pipes 83. Like the rollers in the frame 55, the rollers 19 to 8| are preferably journaled on ball bearings in order to rotate freely.

It has been found that the treatment accorded the cloth from the time it leaves the rod 8| to the time that the finished product issues from the cooling and setting chamber I2 is as vital to the obtaining of a uniformly coated product as the treatment accorded the cloth while in the bath is toward a durable and highly transparent product. In order to have the apparatus as productive as possible, it is, of course, desirable to have the cloth travel through the chamber I2 at the maximum possible rate. To obtain this maximum rate of travel of the cloth through the chamber l2, while obtaining a smooth and uniformly finished product, the cloth is freely suspended in the air from the time it leaves the roller 8| until the initial set of the paraffin compound has taken place. Accordingly, the cloth enters the chamber |2 through a large opening (see Fig. 1) formed in the front end of the housing 86 defining the chamber and is unsupported until it contacts a cross strip 87 located approximately midway of the ends of the chamber l2. This cross strip 81, as best seen in Fig. 6, is slightly bowed upwardly in order to prevent the suspended portion of the cloth from sagging along the middle. This strip, moreover, is adjustable to vary its curvature and its position. To that end an adjusting screw 88 bears against the midpoint of the strip 81 to bow the same upwardly, while the ends are adjustably held by clamp screws 88'. It has been found that to obtain best results the distance between the bar 8| and the strip 81 should be approximately 15 feet and that the cloth should travel at such a rate that approximately twelve seconds are required for the cloth to travel through the distance that it is suspended. Attempts to increase the rate of movement of the cloth by increasing the distance between the bar 8| and the strip 8'! have resulted in an unevenly coated product.

While the cloth is in suspension, air currents are directed against the lower surface by fans 89, while an air current is directed against the upper surface by fans 90, driven by suitable electric motors 9| and 92, respectively. The fans 89 and 98 and their respective motors are mounted upon a frame 93 positioned substantially centrally of the chamber I2. With the cloth suspended for the distance above stated and traveling at the rate stated and with the air currents playing upon both surfaces of the cloth, the paraffin compound, while by no means completely cooled or set, has taken a sufiicient initial set by the time it contacts the strip 81 that it will not be scratched or marred by such contact with the strip.

After contact with the strip 81, the cloth is further treated to effect the final setting and hardening of the parafiin compound. To that end the cloth passes around a hollow and r0- tatably mounted cooling cylinder 94, and thence around a second hollow and rotatably mounted cooling cylinder 95. These cylinders are journaled in the frame 83 with the cylinder located forwardly and slightly above the cylinder 94. It is to be noted in this connection that one surface of the cloth is in direct contact with the cylinder 84, while the opposite surface of the cloth is in direct contact with the cylinder 95 so that both sides of the treated cloth come in direct contact with a cooling cylinder.

As stated, the cylinders 94 and 95 are hollow in order that they may be supplied with a coolant. Accordingly, there is connected to one end of the cylinder 9G a coolant supply pipe 8? leading to a suitable source (not shown). The other end of the cylinder 94 is connected by a conduit 98 to one end of the cylinder 85 and connected to the remaining end of the cylinder 95 is a conduit 99 which forms a discharge pipe and may connect back to the source of coolant supply or may lead to a drain or the like. For best results, the temperature of the cylinders 83 and 95 should be maintained substantially constant and below a predetermined maximum. In the present instance, this temperature is maintained constant by controlling the supply of coolant automatically in'accordance with the temperature of the coolant discharged through the conduit 99. To that end, there is located in the supply pipe 9'! a valve I which is actuated by a thermostat IilI having a thermo-sensitive element I62 terminating at the point of connection between the conduit 99 and the cylinder 95. After the thermostat and Valve have been properly adjusted, any variation in the temperature of the coolant discharge above or below the predetermined value causes the thermostat to open or close the valve I96 as required, in order to increase or reduce the supply ofcoolant through the pipes Ill.

From the cylinder 95 the cloth passes rear wardly over a guide bar Hi3 and thence outwardly of the cooling chamber through a small aperture IMto the winding means I3. The rear side wall of the housing 86 has an opening m5 through which cool air is drawn and circulated by means of a fan I06 located near the opening and directing its air currents toward the cylinders 94 and 95. This fan also is driven by a suitable electric motor III'I.

Depending upon the temperature conditions around the chamber I2, additional cooling of the chamber may be required. To that end, some refrigerating means preferably is provided and, in the present instance, this takes the form of a plurality of coils I08 disposed in a vertical plane substantially intermediate the fan I08 and the frame 93.. Preferably the tier of coils I98 is high enough so that the upper coil is adjacent the top of the housing MS, and so that a few coils may be disposed laterally. The last mentioned coils are staggered to permit the cloth to pass therebetween in its passage from the cylinder 95 to the guide bar 33, and thus receive the benefit of such close proximity to the refrigerant. The coils Iiltare supplied with refrigerant from a suitable source (not shown).

In order to simplify the mechanism, but particularly in order that the cloth may be under tension and thus permit of suspension without sagging, neither the roll from which the cloth is unwound nor the cylinders ml and 95 are driven, but the treated cloth is drawn through the various devices and unwound from the roll in the tank 28 by the winding means It. This means comprises simply (Figs. 8 and 9) a frame I H) in which is rotatably journaled a sprocket wheel I I I having a clutch element II2 splined thereto for rotation therewith while having longitudinal movement relative thereto. This longitudinal movement may be imparted to the clutch element by means of a lever I I3. Adapted to be rotatably journaled in the frame IIll is a winding core H4 having at one end a complementary clutch element II5 for cooperation with the clutch element I I2. The sprocket wheel III is driven through a chain IIB from a smaller sprocket I H, in turn driven from an electric motor IIB through a series of belts IIS and I20.

Interposed between the guide bar Hi3 and the winding core II4 are two guide bars I2I and I22 over which the cloth passes. The bar I22 is journaled directly in the frame H0 and has a fixed axis. The bar I2I, however, is mounted to be adjustable and to that end has an end I2I' pivotally mounted in a fixed portion of the frame III], while the other end is mounted in an upstanding member I23 pivotally connected at its lower end to the frame IIil. At its upper end themember I23 is supported bya threaded crank I24 and thus may be adjusted by rotation of the crank. By such movement of one of the guide bar I2I, the tension on the edges of the cloth may be varied to compensate for any irregularities in weaving of the cloth, to assure that the cloth will roll onto the winding core Ii t ina uniform manner. Mounted on the frame I Iii, adjacent to and parallel with the bar I22, is a plate I24 which bears numbers corresponding in position and spacing to the numbers identifying the adjusting screw I8 of the gage 15. By having such corresponding numbers on the'plate I24 and the gage, the operator, controlling the winding of a finished product on the core I I4 and observing any slight unevenness in the coating of the finished product, is readily enabled to advise the operator at the tank 28 precisely at which point the gage should be adjusted to correct the unevenness.

For satisfactory results, of cour e, it is desirable that the treated cloth have a uniform rate of movement through the chamber I2. To obtain this uniform rate of movement, with the movement imparted by a driving means constantly varying in diameter, there is interposed between the motor H8 and the sprocket II"! a variable speed device I25. This device is automatically actuated to vary the rate at which the core H4 is driven by the motor H3 in inverse proportion to the diameter of the roll of material wound on the core. To that end the device I25 has an arm I26 extending upwardly and carrying on its end a roller I2'I' which rides on the roll of material wound on the core IM and, as it is moved radially outwardly from the core by the successive layers wound on the core, adjuststhe device I25 so as to reduce the rate at which the core I It is driven, though the speed of the motor H8 remains constant. In this way the rate at which the treated cloth is drawn through the chamber I2 will automatically be maintained constant from the initial to the final layers wound on the core II l. When the desired amount of finished material is wound upon the core I I I, the core is released by disengagement of the clutch elements H2 and H5 and the roll of material is then free to roll down a rack I3I. The first roll on the rack drops into hooks I32 at the end of the rack provided for that purpose, while subsequent rolls are retained on the rack by the first roll until the first roll is removed to be'cut into measured lengths and packed.

In order that the cloth may be under a more or less uniform tension as it is drawn through the various devices by the winding core H4, it is passed through the tensioning means M. Herein this means is composed (see Figs. 2 and 8) of two elements I35 and I36, each comprising a pair of hollow guide bars I3'I secured together at their ends in parallel spaced relation by members I38. Projecting from each member I38 is a hollow shaft I39 by means of which each element is rotatably journaled. Suitable means is provided for rotating each element tovarious positions and for retaining the same in the desired position. This means may take the form of a gear I40 fixed on one of the shafts I39 and a gear I ll meshing therewith and having a handle Hi2 for rotating the same. The bars and the shafts are made hollow in order that a heating medium'm'ay be passed therethrough, and preferably at least some of the bars I31 have inclined serrations formed thereon (see Fig. 8) which tend to spread the cloth laterally to smooth the same and to counteract a tendency to become narrow because of the tension thereon. The element I35 is constructed the same asthe element I35. but has one of its shafts I39 journaled in a block I 33 instead of a fixed portion of the tank 23. The block I43 may be adjusted longitudinally of the tank by screws I44 and enough play provided so that the element I36 may be placed at an angle with respect to the element I35.

With the tensioning means constructed as described, the tension on the cloth as a whole may be varied by rotating the elements to the desired position. The tension on both edges of the cloth may be equalized by adjustment of the block I43 toward or away from the element I35. Thus, absolute uniformity of the tension on the cloth may be readily obtained. Moreover, this tensioning means is effective without removing parafiin when positioned as shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the bars I37 do not act as dams causing the paraffin to pile up and run off the edges, but permits the parafiin to be carried over the bars by the cloth, or to flow over the bars and drop back onto the cloth. However, by rotating the elements through 360, the lower bar, at least, of each element will act as a dam and serve to remove paraffin from the cloth. Thus by proper adjustment the means M may be utilized to aid the gage 75, particularly when it is desired to produce a lighter weight product, that is, one having less paraffin.

In order to avoid the necessity of threading the beginning of each new roll of material through the gage i and over the various guide bars. cooling cylinders, etc., and, in order that the material may be run through the cooling chamber as a continuous strip, means is provided for attaching the beginning of a new roll in the tank 28 to the end of the roll which has just been unwound To that end, there extends transversely across the top of the tank 28 a track I29 upon which is mounted for movement transversely of the tank a sewing machine I39. Similarly, a sewing machine I28 is mounted on the frame Ii] to join the ends of successive rolls I8, either to avoid the necessity of threading the cloth over the rollers of the frame 55 or to condition the cloth for running the same through the apparatus in a continuous operation and without being rolled on the core 42.

' While the steps in the manufacture and the operation of the apparatus for carrying out those steps are believed readily understandable from the foregoing description, a brief summary of the operation of the apparatus will be made. Let it be assumed that the tank 28 has been filled with the proper parafiin compound and that a roll of cloth to be treated has been placed in the bearings H. To initiate the impregnating and coating of the material, the end of the roll is unwound manually and threaded over the tank I9 and the various guide bars 2|, 22 and 23. The frame 55 is then removed from the tank 28 and the end of the material threaded over and around the various rollers 51 to 65 and secured in the core 42. For the purpose of threading the material through the rollers of the frame 55, the lever II is actuated to shift the pressure rollers 56 and 6'! out of engagement with their cooperating rollers, and afterward the lever 1| is again released permitting the rollers 66 and 6'! to bear against the cooperating rollers 58 and 60, and BI and 63, respectively. The frame 55 is then lowered into the tank 28, the core 42 placed in the bearings 4|,

the lever 41 shifted to engage the clutch for driving the core, and the motor 5| started.

As the core Q2 is driven from the motor 5|, the material is wound thereon and is unwound from the roll l8 and drawn over the various rollers in the frame 55. As the material passes from the roll It to the core 42, it is first dried by contact with the tank I9 and by passing above the tank so as to remove any moisture that may be in the material. As it passes over the roller 58, it is subjected to pressure which squeezes from the material any air that may be therein and which would prevent the parafiin compound from penetrating to the core of the material or from filling the interstices between the fibres of the material. Not only does this application of pressure drive out any air that may be in the material, but it also tends to force the parafiin compound to the very core of the fibres making up the material, and, of course, in the subsequent expansion of the material after compression by the rollers the absorption of compound is also enhanced. This application of pressure is repeated on three additional occasions before the material is finally wound on the core 42. By this treatment, not only is the time during which the material must be submerged in the bath greatly reduced, but a greatly improved product is obtained in that the product is made more transparent and also more uniform and more durable. This treatment also permits the material immediately to be wound into a roll and thus greatly simplifies the handling of the material.

When a complete roll of material has been Wound on the core 42, the lever 41 is actuated to disengage the clutch driving the core, and the core and the roll of material thereon are then rolled along the guide frame 35 until the core drops into the bearings 40. While a new roll of material is wound on another core 42 placed in the bearings 4|, the material in the rear end of the tank 28 is unwound and passed through the cooling and setting chamber I2 to result in the finished product. Assuming the roll to be unwound to be the first to be run through the apparatus, the end of the material is threaded over the bars I31, forming the tensioning means 14, thence through the gage I5 which has been adjusted to provide the desired aperture, thence over the rollers I9, and BI around the cooling cylinders 94 and 95 and over the bars I53, HI and I22 and is secured to a core 4 of the winding means I3. The motor I I8 is then started and the clutch elements H2 and H5 engaged so as to drive the core H4. With the rotation of the winding core H4, the treated material is unwound from the roll in the rear end of the tank 28 and is drawn through the gage 15 and through the cooling and setting chamber l2 at the proper rate. This rate is maintained constant, even though the diameter of the roll on the core I|4 varies, by means of the variable speed device I25 which is actuated automatically to decrease the speed of rotation of the core II4 as the diameter of the roll wound thereon increases. When the desired amount of finished material is wound upon the core II4, the clutch elements H2 and H5 are disengaged, the material is severed and the core and the material wound thereon are permitted to roll down the rack I3I where they are temporarily stored until the material is cut into smaller lengths and packed for shipment.

The severed end of the material is then attached to a new core 4 and the winding of the advantages.

finished product upon the core H4 is continued. When all the material has been unwound from the core 42, the winding means I3 is momentarily stopped before the end of the material passes through the tensioning bars I31 and a new roll is mounted in the bearings 40 and the end thereof attached to the end of a previous roll by means of the sewing machine I38. This obviates the necessity of rethreading the material from the subsequent roll over the various guide bars and the apparatus is again ready for further operation of the winding means I3.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that we have perfected a new apparatus for treating material having many improved features and By means'of our invention a product is produced which is more durable, more uniform, and more transparent than heretofore. Not only is a superior product produced, however, but it is produced at a higher rate than heretofore, because of the simplified handling of the material made possible by the new apparatus. Furthermore, by a simple adjustment the grade of material produced may be variedand the apparatus may also be converted for continuous operation.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus for impregnating and coating sheet material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound maintained heated to a fluid condition, and means for repeatedly subjecting the material to pressure while in the bath comprising a frame fitting within one end of said tank, a plurality of guide rollers over which the material runs mounted in said frame to extend transversely of said tank, a pair of pressure rollers each positioned to contact two of said guide rollers, a lever system engaging said pressure rollers and operable to disengage said pressure rollers from said guide rollers to permit threading the material over said guide rollers, anda tension spring urging said pressure rollers yieldably into'engagement with said guide rollers when said lever system is released to said spring.

2., In an apparatus for impregnating and coating a material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, and means for subjecting the material to pressure while in the bath, a first guide roller over which the material runs located near the bottom of the bath, a second guide roller over which the material runs located near the top of the bath but still in submerged position, and a pressure roller adapted yieldably to bear against said second guide roller to apply pressure to the material as it passes between said rollers, the relative positions of said second guide roller and said pressure roller being such that the point of contact is in advance of the vertical diameter of said pressure roller to permit the air which is pressed from the material by said rollers to escape upwardly about said pressure roller.

3. In an apparatus for impregnating and coating a material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, and means for subjecting the material to pressure while in the bath comprising a plurality of guide rollers over which the material runs as it is fed into the bath, said guide rollers being submerged in the bath and mounted for free rotation, a freely rotatable pressure roller and adjustable means for urging the same into engagement with at least one of said guide rollers to apply pressure to the material as it passes between said pressure roller and the guide roller with which it is in engagement.

4. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of 'the material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, means for feeding the material into said bath including a core adapted to be rotatably journaled in submerged position in said tank, means for driving said core to wind the material thereon and unwind the same from the roll supported externally of said tank, and a pair of cooperating pressure elements between which the material is caused to pass and which compress the material as it passes thereb-etween to aid in the impregnation of the material by the compound forming the loa h.

5. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of the material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, means for feeding the material'into said bath including a core adapted to be rotatably journaled in submerged position in said tank, means for driving said core to wind the material thereon and unwind the same from the roll, and means through which the material passes after it has been submerged in the bath and prior toits being wound upon said core applying pressure to the material to aid in the absorption of impregnating compound by the material.

6. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of the material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, a guide frame in the tank providing a bearing means for feeding the material into said bath comprising a core to which the free end of the material may be attached, said core being rotatably journaled in the bearing in said guide frame and submerged in the bath, and power means for rotating said core to draw the material into the bath and means through which the material passes operable to compress the material in its passage to the core to assure thorough impregnation of the material prior to its being Wound upon said core.

'7. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, an elongated tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, a support for a roll of the material to be treated located at one end of said tank, a guide frame within said tank and extending longitudinally thereof, said guide frame providing a first bearing and a second bearing, means for feeding the material into the bath comprising a core adapted to be journaled in the first bearing of said guide frame and adapted to have the free end of the material secured thereto, and power means for rotating said core to draw the material into said tank including a clutch controlling engagement of said power means with said core, and means through which the material is drawn by rotation of said core operable to compress the material to aid in the impregnation of the material, said first bearing only partially surrounding said core enabling the same to be rolled therefrom after disengagement of said clutch onto said guide frame. to said second bearing where the core with the material thereon is rotatably journaled for soaking or for unwinding of the material for further treatment.

8. In an apparatus for treating sheet material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, means for withdrawing treated material from the bath, and a tensioning device through which the material is run upon being withdrawn from the bath comprising a pair of rotatable elements extending generally transversely of the tank and each comprising two spaced parallel guide bars secured together at their ends, means for independently rotating each of said elements and for holding the same in rotated position, and bearing means in which the ends of said elements are journaled, one of the bearing means being adjustable longitudinally of said tank relative to the remaining bearing means to position one of the elements with its axis at an angle, in the plane passing through both axes, to the axis of the other element.

9. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of the material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of the impregnating and coating compound, and means for feeding by unwinding the material from the roll continuously and submerging the same in the bath of the tank comprising bearings positioned in the tank below the normal level of the compound contained therein, a core to which the free end of the material may be attached adapted to be rotatably journaled in said bearings, and power means for rotating said core when journaled in the bearings to draw the material into the bath and rewind the same in a roll upon said core in the bath.

10. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of the material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coatin compound, means for feeding the material into said bath ineluding a core adapted to be rotatably journaled in submerged position in said tank, means for driving said core to wind the material thereon and unwind the same from the roll of untreated material, and a pair of cooperating pressure ele- L ments submerged in the bath between which the material is caused to pass and which compress the material as it passes therebetween to aid in the impregnation of the material by the 001..- pound forming the bath.

11. In an apparatus for treating sheet material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, means for withdrawing treated material from the bath, and a tensioning device through which the material is run upon being withdrawn from the bath comprising an element extending generally transversely of the tank and composed of two spaced parallel guide bars secured together at their ends, bearings mounted on said tank in which said element is rotatably journaled, means for rotating said element and for retaining the same in rotated position and means for adjusting one of said bearings longitudinally of said tank relative to the other bearing to place the axis of said tensioning device at an angle with a line truly transverse of said tank and of the material as it is withdrawn from said tank.

12. In an apparatus for impregnating and coating a material, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, said tank having an opening through which material to be impregnated is fed into the bath, and means for subjecting the material to pressure while in the bath, comprising a first guide roller over which the material runs located at the side of the tank opposite the point of entry of the material, a second guide roller located adjacent the point of entry of the material, a freely rotatable pressure roller, and adjustable means yieldably urging the same into engagement with said second guide roller to apply pressure to the material as it passes between said pressure roller and said second guide roller.

13. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, bearings in said tank below the normal level of the bath therein, a core journaled in said bearings upon which the material is to be wound, power means including a clutch engageable in driving relation with said core to rotate the same and cause the material to be unwound from the roll of material, drawn into the bath and wound upon said core, said clutch being disengageable from said core to render the same freely rotatable, and means for unwinding the impregnated material from said core comprising a second core upon which the finished material is wound, power means for driving said second core and tensioning means mounted on said tank and through which the material passes immediately upon leaving said first core.

14. An apparatus for treating sheet material comprising, in combination, a support for a roll of material to be treated, a tank containing a bath of impregnating and coating compound, a core upon which the material is to be wound rotatably journaled in submerged position within said bath, and power means for rotating said core to cause the material to be unwound from the roll of material, drawn into the bath, and wound upon said core while submerged in the bath, and maintained at the uniform and normal temperature of the bath.

HAROLD WARP.

JOHN R. WARP. 

